Saturday, December 31, 2011

Yes you herd it right! Now you can make your Ambiance & Radiance desktop theme any dang color you want! Isn't that Cool?

We took on this task of creating this theme sometime in early November. Because once againwe saw a few Ambiance & Radiance themes out there but usually in only one color and in only in one of the Ambiance & Radiance versions! And sometimes we felt the colors where off or it wasn't done the way we would have liked.

And since we are so picky we decided to roll are own! We couldn't find an all inclusive package of 8 Different colored Ambiance & Radiance Themes. And So with that great open source mentality in mind we decided to make one!

We worked extremely hard on getting beautiful calm and crisp colors. Spending quite a deal of time selecting each color. We made an inherent design decision to make all the colors less "bright" and saturated as the original Ambiance & Radiance. We felt it was a little too bright.After selecting these colors we hoped they would be soft one ones eyes and calming.

Also we made a few changes to the underlying theme but nothing huge as this is still suppose to be Ambiance & Radiance.

We changed the terminal colors across all the versions from eggplant purple to a dark grayish black background with Grayish/White text. It's very elegant looking and easy on your eyes. We got inspired from FreeBSD's & PCBSD (TM) terminal colors.

we removed "colorizing" of the active or selected button.Leaving only the border outlined instead. We did this partly because we think it looks nice and becuase using darker colors in the theme really made the colorized button unreadable.We could have lighted the saturation level however in doing so you inherit the nightmare of matching every single color's "prelight" color to one another. additionally you have to correctly match the colors using different syntax and brightness levels between GTK2 and 3. We attempted this but always felt the end result would look better not colorized thus we only outline the border of active or selected buttons. Perhaps next time perhaps not

Anywhooo... After 3 months of development. Heavy testing and tweaking Here it is:

(!) Updated 11.10.1 Version (Jan 30) , Full Gnome Shell support, New Improved Design,(As well as classic) Fixes and more.

Now Available in a Official PPA or Ubuntu, Mint or Debian Packages! See bellow! Thanks go to Dr.Amr

The Ambiance & Radiance themes, Are now in all the colors of the rainbow and then some! Now you can have any color Ambiance or Radiance theme you want! Now in the highly popular Ambiance and Radiance improved design! As well as Classic Ambiance and Radiance colors

Now in 2 Versions! Now in the highly popular Ambiance and Radiance improved design by:"simplygreat". And in the "Classic" Ambiance and Radiance design used in Ubuntu by default. Yes thats right every color comes in both ambiance and radiance AS WELL is in Classic or Improved ambiance and radiance.

Now with Full Gnome-Shell Support! (See bellow on how to install/activate it...)

Includes both: Ambiance & Radiance GTK2&3 Widget and Window border themes.* Build to work with GTK3! themes that don't support GTK3 yet look like Win95(TM) when running gtk3 apps! This theme won't do that!* Installs as separate themes from the main Ambiance/Radiance.

NOW INCLUDED IN ALL VERSIONS:Your choice between:

(1) Ambiance and Radiance Improved (DEFAULT) -The ambiance and radiance themes in 8 different colors with major design revisions includingunified tool-bar and window-bar. Dark and Light Nautilus sidebars. Simplified Window Buttons (Color droplets with no symbols on them) and more!

(2) Classic Ambiance and Radiance (CLASSIC) - The ambiance and radiance themes in 8 different colors (Original) with minimal changes from stock ambiance and radiance (Latest Versions of each)

(!) Both of these versions will be selectable when you install any version of the theme.

NOTE: The original Ambiance/Radiance Themes are Designed and created By: Kenneth Wimer, James Schriver, Andrea Cimitan (C) 2010-2011 GPL Canonicol LTD.This is a "port" simply with different colors and a little different design.(!) This is not a fork! we will be fallowing updates to Ambiance/Radiance as close as we can. THIS IS NOT by the Originol Ambiance/Radiance Authors

Brought to you by(Based on):

RAVEfinity (C) 2011+ RAVEfinty, (Jared Sot.) (www.ravefinity.blogspot.com)RAVEfinity designed and created the Ambiance & Radiance Colors theme "port" with carefully selected colors. Bringing loads of new colors to Ambiance & Radiance! We also made a few design changes. And Creator of Ambiance&Radiance-XFCE&LXDE (Port) used to provide Xfce and LXDE support.

(Based on stock Ambiance/Radiance, We modify as little as possible to make it work on XFCE/LXDE & Openbox.)Ambiance/Radiance Themes Designed and created By: Kenneth Wimer, James Schriver, Andrea Cimitan (C) 2010-2011 GPL Canonicol LTD.

(Original Openbox Border Based On (Note: we now develop and maintain this as separate updated "fork" that your using.)Ambiance Openbox (Window Borders) By: David Barr (C) 2010 GPL. (http://david.chalkskeletons.com/)*We use the original and,then ported Radiance based on this.

(Original XFCE Border Based On (Note: we now develop and maintain this as separate updated "fork" that your using.)Ambiance for XFCE(Window Borders) By: p0ng (C) 2010 GPL (http://www.p0ng.com.br)*We have applied fixes and ported Radiance based on this.

2.)Simply Paste this into the terminal:

(You may need to copy and paste 1 line after another. this is a Que of commands not 1 single command)

(!) You will now be prompted for your user password... type this in the terminal when asked(This gives your system permission to install the software source. your password is not shared with anyone and only your computer verifies and keeps it.)

3.) Now Press Enter to confirm adding of the software.

4.) Type "Y" when asked to confirm if you wish to install the software.

*If you want the themes that support XFCE,LXDE and openbox paste this*sudo apt-get install ambiance-colors-xfcelxde radiance-colors-xfcelxde

(NOTE) A PPA means you will receive updates through the update manager and never have to think about updating or manually installing the theme!

If you would just like to download the Ubuntu (.Deb) packages manually then just see bellow.

To install The Theme for *your user account only*, Fallow these steps, They should work on any GTK2&3 *nix desktop.

1.) Click to Open Up the package file you just downloaded... "Ambiance&Radiance-Colors-11-10.tar.gz"2.) Once Open, Click the "Extract" Button... Then Browse to: /Home/YourUserName/.Themes(!)To see the folder (it's a hidden one!) press ctrl+h in this file browser window to view hidden folders. the folder we want to install it in is ".themes" in your home directory.3.) Extract the complete package "Ambiance&Radiance-Colors-11-10.tar.gz" file (Folders and all)to the ".themes" folder in your home directory.4.) Select it VIA your Theme Manager! see bellow.(!) This will install the theme for the current user only , Every user will have to do this on there own!, Thats why we recommend the system wide method (See README packed in download)

Install The Ambiance & Radiance-Xfce/LXDE Theme SYSTEM Wide:

1.) Open a terminal and type: sudo file-roller (Then type your password when asked)-Fedora/Redhat Users Without sudo, type: "su -c file-roller" (Then type the root password)2.) Now You will see the File Roller Archiver application...Click "File -> Open" Then Browse for the package you just downloaded: "Ambiance&Radiance-Colors-11-10.tar.gz". Then click open.3.) Once You've opened the "Ambiance&Radiance-Colors-11-10.tar.gz" package,Select "Extract". Then Browse to the fallowing folder:"/usr/share/themes/" Then click ok!3.)The Ambiance&Radiance-Colors Theme Should now be installed! Now all you must do is select the Ambiance-ColorYouWant or Radiance-ColorYouWant theme VIA your desktops theme manager!

Installing and Activating The Included Gnome Shell Themes.

Due to the current setup of gnome-shell themes in general a extra step is necessary to install the gnome-shell themes.This MUST be repeated for every user wanting to use the the themes on GnomeShell. We are SORRY this is not our complete doing.

Once you have installed Ambiance & Radiance Colors (As instructed or VIA a Ubuntu .deb package)

1.) Browse to where you installed the theme, then the fallowing folder... (/usr/share/themes/ then Ambiance-Colors or Radiance-Colors folder)2.) Open the file named "Ambiance-Colors-Theme-Gnome-Shell-Themes-All.zip" or "Radiance-Colors-Theme-Gnome-Shell-Themes-All.zip"3.) Extract the complete contents to "/home/YourUserName/.Themes"

(!)To see the folder (it's a hidden one!) press ctrl+h in this file browser window to view hidden folders. the folder we want to install it in is ".themes" in your home directory.

(Yes please repeat this process with the Ambiance-Colors or Radiance-Colors folder (The one you didn't install yet) if you want both ambiance and radiance gnome shell colors themes installed)

Fedora and RedhatInstall via searching for "gnome-tweak-tool" in Add/Remove Software or type: yum install gnome-tweak-tool ,in a terminal or Run Command

5.) Now Open the "Gnome Tweak Tool" (Sometimes labeled "Advanced Settings")6.) Once the "Gnome Tweak Tool" application is open...Select the "Theme" option from the list of options on the left.7.) Now select your desired version of Ambiance-ColorYouWant or Radiance-ColorYouWant from the "Gnome-Shell" drop down list box.Click apply.. Your Done!

See the included README file (Comes with your download) for how to install and use plus full credits (it's straight foreword but we are here to help)

(!)NOTE: Requires Ubuntu 11.04, Linux Mint 11, Fedora 15 and later (Because of theme engine) because you need to have murrine theme engine(Version 0.98 and newer!)(!) NOTE: XFCE version will work on Ubuntu 10.10 and newer

(!) Yes this is 100% GPL.

(!) NOTE: If you plan to use this theme on the LXDE desktop on Ubuntu 11.10, Mint 12 , Fedora 16. and later Please note there is a issue with LXDE and themes with a panel image leading to SIGNIFICANT wasteful CPU USE.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Announcing The Re-branding of iravefuzion project and Raveh20 to RAVEfinity / The RAVEfinty Project!

Hello all!, it bring's me great happiness to say, RaveH20 theme has been in development for over one year now!

In honor of this anniversary we decided it would be a good idea rename it to something easier to say and cooler sounding! and in order to make it less confusing and give some "Unity" to the project we have decided to rename the entire Project from iRaveFuzion Project to The RAVEfinty Project. And the the theme from RaveH20 to RAVEFinity!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Today we are announcing the release of something quite different then are usual work.But we felt like it needed to be done for the sake of availability for the community. Yes thats rightthe RAVEfinity team has brought together the primer port of Ambiance & Radiance Themes for Xfce/LXDE!

In the past there where multiple ports on the inter-webs but none quite all together in a all inclusive package. We literally dropped development on RAVEfinity 5 for 2 weeks to bring this together for the community. We hope to continue to maintain it as Ambiance & Radiance get updated. Theres not much else to say about it. We aren't getting into politics we did this just so you could have a unified theme of all your desktops. We find Unity,Gnome3 pretty great so thats definitely not why we created this. Anywho here it is:

This theme is a complete(And Probably the most comprehensive and tested out there) port of Ambiance & Radiance to Xfce,LXDE and Openbox with native window decorations and all.Now you can easily have the look and feel of the Ambiance/Radiance themes (Default Ubuntu Themes) across any XFCE,LXDE and Openbox desktop. Leading to a unified and consistent desktop experience!

(Based on the official Ambiance & Radiance themes, This is not however by the official Ambiance/Radiance team. but we made as few changes as possible.Includes both: Ambiance & Radiance GTK2&3 Widget and Window border themes.

* Build to work with GTK3! Other Xfce or LXDE themes that don't support GTK3 yet look like Win95(TM) when running gtk3 apps! This theme won't do that!* Installs as a separate theme from the main Ambiance/Radiance, for use with XFCE/LXDE only. (please use official Ambiance/Radiance for Gnome/Unity)* Includes Ambiance/Radiance Window Borders for Xfce and LXDE! (Xfwm4,Openbox)

-Now Updated in 11.10.2 version...-Now you can select what side you want the XFCE window buttons on! and arrange as you like! (Defaults to XFCEs Preference)

A HUGE (And large majority) of Thanks goes to: (They aren't affiliated with RAVEfinty, we aren't as awesome as them yet.)Kenneth Wimer, James Schriver, Andrea Cimitan,David Barr,p0ng.

* See Readme in the tar.gz for detailed instructions and Credits.

(!) If you have any fixes or want to package it (Deb,RPM,Arch,Slackware), please email us:ravefinity@gmail.comThanks so much!

Changelog:-11.10.2 , Lots Fixes and enhancements to XFWM4 and Openbox Window Borders!-Now you can select what side you want the XFCE window buttons on! and arrange as you like! (Defaults to XFCEs Preference) -Yeah Merry Christmas :)-XFCE Window Border theme now has a pretty window menu button.-Fixes to XFCE Window border so it looks good no matter how many buttons are on the window.-Fixes to Openbox theme, Title now centered. Dark version has a menu outline.

-11.10.1 , A few updates to docs and credits. (If you had the previous version from us you may not need to re-download this as we only changed docs)

To install The Theme for *your user account only*, Fallow these steps, They should work on any GTK2&3 *nix desktop.

1.) Click to Open Up the package file you just downloaded... "Ambiance&Radiance-XfceLXDE-11-10-2.tar.gz"2.) Once Open, Click the "Extract" Button... Then Browse to: /Home/YourUserName/.Themes(!)To see the folder (it's a hidden one!) press ctrl+h in this file browser window to view hidden folders. the folder we want to install it in is ".themes" in your home directory.3.) Extract the complete package "Ambiance&Radiance-XfceLXDE-11-10-2.tar.gz" file (Folders and all)to the ".themes" folder in your home directory.4.) Select it VIA your Theme Manager! see bellow.(!) This will install the theme for the current user only , Every user will have to do this on there own!, Thats why we recommend the system wide method (See readme)

Install The Theme. *System Wide**** Recommended Method! ***(Note: this Method requires Root or SUDO privileges) (!) DO AT OWN RISK!

Install The Ambiance & Radiance-Xfce/LXDE Theme SYSTEM Wide:

1.) Open a terminal and type: sudo file-roller (Then type your password when asked)-Fedora/Redhat Users Without sudo, type: "su -c file-roller" (Then type the root password)2.) Now You will see the File Roller Archiver application...Click "File -> Open" Then Browse for the package you just downloaded: "Ambiance&Radiance-XfceLXDE-11-10-2". Then click open.3.) Once You've opened the "Ambiance&Radiance-XfceLXDE-11-10-2",Select "Extract". Then Browse to the fallowing folder:"/usr/share/themes/" Then click ok!3.)The Ambiance&Radiance-XfceLXDE Theme Should now be installed! Now all you must do is select the Ambiance-XfceLXDE or Radiance-XfceLXDE theme VIA your desktops theme manager!

-See the included readme file for how to install and use plus full credits (it's straight foreword but we are here to help)

(!)NOTE: Requires Ubuntu 10.10, Linux Mint 10, Fedora 14 and later (Because of theme engine) because you need to have murrine theme engine(Version 0.98 and newer!)(!) Yes this is 100% GPL.

RAVEfinity now provides a way to easily Install this theme on Ubuntu. via a software PPA and package.To Install this theme instantly on Ubuntu 10.10, 11.04, 11.10, 12.04.

2.)Simply Paste this into the terminal:

(You may need to copy and paste 1 line after another. this is a Que of commands not 1 single command)

(!) You will now be prompted for your user password... type this in the terminal when asked(This gives your system permission to install the software source. your password is not shared with anyone and only your computer verifies and keeps it.)

3.) Now Press Enter to confirm adding of the software.

4.) Type "Y" when asked to confirm if you wish to install the software.

*If you want the themes that support XFCE,LXDE and openbox paste this*sudo apt-get install ambiance-colors-xfcelxde radiance-colors-xfcelxde

(NOTE) A PPA means you will receive updates through the update manager and never have to think about updating or manually installing the theme!

If you would just like to download the Ubuntu (.Deb) packages manually then just see bellow.

(!) NOTE: If you plan to use this theme on the LXDE desktop on Ubuntu 11.10, Mint 12 , Fedora 16. and later Please note there is a issue with LXDE and themes with a panel image leading to SIGNIFICANT wasteful CPU USE.

Monday, November 7, 2011

(!) Warning there is not warranty for this guide. However we have taken great steps to make sure it is safe.LXDE "Theme Issue" work around for some themes on the LXDE Desktop.

RAVEfinity Team: During our recent test process we have discovered quite a major issue within the LXDE desktop Panel. (Version 0.5.8 Only)When using ANY Theme with a "panel background image" the LXDE-Panel program consumes 80% CPU! NOT GOOD. This consumption is constant. until you change themes or logout.This will effect ANY GTK theme with a panel background Image not just ours so please take note.This effects the LXDE desktop Only. No other desktops are effected.This Effects any theme with a panel background using LXDE Panel. (Version 0.5.8 Only)

This issue effects the fallowing configurations ONLY:LXDE desktops with Panel Version (0.5.8) That would be Ubuntu 11.10, Fedora 16 , Mint 12, Debian Testing (And possibly newer) ONLYUbuntu 10.04, 10.10, 11.04. Fedora 14, 15. Mint 9 ,10 ,11 and Debian 6. Are NOT effected by this so DO NOT WORRY.This effects Themes with a panel background image. A background image specified within the theme and not via the lxde panel dialog (Some more simple themes just use a single color and are not effected)

To check if you are "effected": Simply right click on the LXDE panel and select "About" If you see "Version 0.5.8" Then you most likely are. If you see"Version 0.5.7" or LOWER you SHOULD be ok.

To verify if you are effected: If you are using "Version 0.5.8" Then open up a "System Monitor" program of your choice. And check your CPU use. (Be sure to not have any other apps running at this time.) Alternately you can open up a terminal and type "top". Now inspect your CPU use. If you see a program called "lxde-panel" consuming a lot of CPU (60-100%) Then you need to use the work around or change themes. THIS IS NOT NORMAL and if not fixed can lead to overheating in some MAJOR cases.

The Work Around. (Depends on your theme, For Ambiance & Radiance LXDE or Colors version by RAVEfinity do this.)

1.) Right click on the LXDE panel (The strip on the bottom or top of your desktop that holds your menu and clock)

2.) Select "Panel Settings" From the right click menu.

3.) You should see a window called "Panel Preferences" Click on the "Appearance tab"

4.) Once in the appearance tab. You will see a category called "Background" Change the selected (Or bubbled) option from "System theme" to "Image"

5.) Now click on the "Big square box with the folder icon" directly right of the "Image" Option. This allows you to browse to the desired image.

6.) You should see a window called "Select and image" In Ambiance & Radiance LXDE or Colors version by RAVEfinity you can browse to the fallowing paths...

7.) In the window called "Select and image" Click on "file-system" on the left-hand side. Now Browse to the folder "usr" then the folder "share" then the folder "themes"EG. /usr/share/themes/

8.) Once in the folder path "/usr/share/themes/" Browse to the folder of current theme you are using...Lets say you are using "Ambiance-Xfce&LXDE" then you would open the folder "Ambiance-Xfce&LXDE" then ---> "gtk-2.0" then ---> "apps" then ---> "img" Then finally click on the file "panel.png" and click open!

9.) You did it! now all you have to do is logout and log back in for the entire panel theme change to take effect.

If you are using Ambiance-Blue-Xfce&LXDE (Or any other color or version.) The same thing goes just click on that folder. Eg.you would open the folder "Ambiance-Blue-Xfce&LXDE" then ---> "gtk-2.0" then ---> "apps" then ---> "img" Then finally click on the file "panel.png" and click open!

Then You did it! now all you have to do is logout and log back in for the entire panel theme change to take effect.

(?) What about other themes?You would repeat steps 1-7 then find the folder of your theme in "/usr/share/themes/" then open the "gtk-2.0" and look for a file called "panel.png" if there isn't one your theme may be creating it's own from code.To still do the fix simply:

(!) NOTE! you may not be effected at all if this is the case! please double check you are! (see above) if you still are try this:

1.) Right click on the LXDE panel (The strip on the bottom or top of your desktop that holds your menu and clock)

2.) Select "Panel Settings" From the right click menu.

3.) You should see a window called "Panel Preferences" Click on the "Appearance tab"

4.) Once in the appearance tab. You will see a category called "Background" Change the selected (Or bubbled) option from "System theme" to "Solid Color (with opacity)" now select a color that matches your theme!Things to know.

1.) After making these changes you need to log-in and back out for the changes to properly take effect.

2.) You will NEED to manually change the panel background every-time you change or update your theme! Simply repeat the steps browsing to the folder of the new theme.

3.) If you want to get the default LXDE look (Stock) back, just do this:

a.) Right click on the LXDE panel (The strip on the bottom or top of your desktop that holds your menu and clock)

b.) Select "Panel Settings" From the right click menu.

c.) You should see a window called "Panel Preferences" Click on the "Appearance tab"

d.) Once in the appearance tab. You will see a category called "Background" Change the selected (Or bubbled) option from "System theme" to "Image"

e.) Now click on the "Big square box with the folder icon" directly right of the "Image" Option. This allows you to browse to the desired image.

f.) You should see a window called "Select and image"

g.) In the window called "Select and image" Click on "file-system" on the left-hand side. Now Browse to the folder "usr" then the folder "share" then the folder "lxpanel"

h.) Once in the folder path "/usr/share/lxpanel/" click on the file "background.png" and click open!

(!) now logout and back in.

4.) If you are using lubuntu or a different theme that is not effected and want to revert back to it's default look just do this.

a.) Right click on the LXDE panel (The strip on the bottom or top of your desktop that holds your menu and clock)

b.) Select "Panel Settings" From the right click menu.

c.) You should see a window called "Panel Preferences" Click on the "Appearance tab"

d.) Once in the appearance tab. You will see a category called "Background" Change the selected (Or bubbled) option to "System theme"

(!) now logout and back in.

Notes: We don't know how long this issue will persist but it is fairly serious so thus we have responded with this work around. Once it is fixed you will need to revert the work aroundwith one of the steps mentioned here (In the Things to know section) Unless you update to a newer distro :)

Saturday, January 1, 2011

The RaveH20 Team is very proud to announce the immediate release of RaveH20 4 Theme!RaveH20 4 Codename:"Danger Days"This Version has been in development for over 9 mouths! And sees a major overall and cleanup in practically all areas of the theme both the Icon and the GTK Themes.

The RaveH20 4 Theme Aims to be an Original (As in Originality and Uniqueness) and beautiful Theme. Meaning it doesn't try to mimic,copy or by any means ripoff other Themes or Operating System GUIs. It only tries to be a unique beautiful first class version of it's self. Its also aims to a 100% Free and Legal Icon Theme For Linux,BSD and any other OpenSource desktops, useing GTK, Gnome , XFCE , LXDE or other desktops, It does not use Icons Stolen or taken from unauthorized sources, RaveH20 4 Only includes Icons Licensed Under the GPL/LGPL (v.2) Created by Us or others! You "should" be safe in distributing or modifying RaveH20 4 for your own commercial or personal needs. So feel free to use RaveH20 4 in your own distribution, Community,Commercial or Personal Etc. *We cannot make any legal warrentys to this however as we are a group of volunteers.*

RaveH20 4 Icon Theme Now Comes in three versions:1.) Night Edition - Made for Desktops with Dark Themes and Panels2.) Lights Edition - Made for Desktops With Light themes and Panels3.) Classic Edition - Aims to be compatible with any color theme or desktop but may not be cool as the above monochrome versions!, As It does not use monochrome tray icons.

(View All Files Here)Read The GnomeLook Release Page For More Install instructions: HereRead The Howto install and Use PDF (Coming soon)(!) A Special Thanks goes To Josh S., The Developer Of Me-OS, a great easy to use and unique looking OpenSuse Based Distro, For Kindly Mirroring The Theme On His Server. Checkout Me-OS Linux:http://me-oslinux.com/